This document discusses healthy aging in the policy context. It begins by examining different constructions and terminology used around aging at the individual, organizational, and policy levels. Several international and national policy drivers that have shaped aging policy are described. The concept of healthy aging is then defined by various organizations. Targets for active and healthy aging set by the EU aim to increase healthy lifespans. Measurement challenges around defining and estimating prevalence of healthy aging are also discussed. The conclusion reflects on how aging is constructed in policies and terminology, and questions whether some policy goals are truly achievable.

1. Healthy Ageing - Policy Context
Dr Roger O’Sullivan
7 March 2013

2. Introduction
• Constructions of ageing
• Ageing policy
• Healthy Ageing
• Implications

3. Construction of ageing
“Everyone involved in policymaking,
individually and collectively, is engaged in
‘everyday theorising’, that is, they hold
articulated or unarticulated ideas about
the behaviours and needs of people and
what direction social policy could take to
address these”.
Dr. Maria Pierce and Dr. Virpi Timonen 2010 – A discussion paper on theories of
ageing and approaches to welfare in Ireland , north and south

4. Different Constructions of Ageing
Chronological view of
ageing
New theories of
ageing
Bismarck designed the
first Pension system in
1881

5. Construction at three levels
• Individual level
• Organisational level
• Public policy

6. Ageing - Individual level - terminology
• Elderly
• The aged
• Older folks
• Seniors
• Senior citizens
• Pensioners
• Older people

7. Ageing organisations
Ageing – Organisational level

8. Policy Level - International Policy Drivers:
• Older Americans Act (1965)
• Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing (1983)
• The United Nations Principles for Older Persons (UN General
Assembly Resolution 46/91 - 1991).
• European Year of the Elderly and of Solidarity between Generations
(1993)
• Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (UN, 2002)
• WHO - Active Ageing: A Policy Framework (WHO, 2002)
• Age-friendly Cities Programme (WHO, 2006)
• UN General Assembly: Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (UN,
2010)
• Commissioner for Wales 2007 (NI in 2012)
• European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between
Generations (2012)

9. Ageing policy in Ireland – north and south
Northern Ireland
• Investing for health (2002)
• Ageing in an inclusive
society (2005)
• Lifetime Opportunities:
Government’s Anti-Poverty
and Social Inclusion Strategy
(2007)
• Commissioner for older
people in NI (2012)
• New ageing strategy
Republic of Ireland
• The Years Ahead (1998)
• Quality and Fairness: A
Health System for You (2001
• Towards 2016: Ten Year
Framework Social
Partnership Agreement
2006 – 2015
• Positive Ageing Strategy
2013 -forthcoming

10. Ageing in an Inclusive Society Strategy Overview

11. Ageing in an Inclusive Society Strategy – Healthy
Ageing Section

12. Development of Concept
• Ageing well (1970s)
• Successful ageing (1970s)
• Productive ageing (1980s)
• Healthy ageing (1980s)
• Inclusive ageing (1990s)
• Positive ageing (1990s)
• Active ageing (1990s)

13. Healthy Ageing - Policy definitions
Ireland: NCAOP
“While healthy ageing implies a focus on the maintenance of health, often through
lifestyle choices and preventive measures (Davey, 2002), it is used here in a broader
context. Healthy ageing, as used in this report, is concerned with increasing
the quantity and quality of life of older people” (National Council on Ageing and
Older people - Healthy Ageing in Ireland: Policy, Practice and Evaluation 2003).
EU - OECD
“The process of optimizing opportunities for physical, social and mental health to
enable older people to take an active part in society without discrimination and to
enjoy an independent and good quality of life” (SNIPH, 2007).
International - The Australian government
“Healthy ageing describes the on going activities and behaviours you undertake
to reduce the risk of illness and disease and increase your physical, emotional and
mental health”.

14. Targets : Active and Healthy Ageing
European commission: Active and healthy
ageing innovation partnership have set a
goal of adding 2 years to the average
healthy lifespan in the EU by 2020
http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?section=active-healthy-ageing&pg=about

15. Measurement of healthy ageing
“Although the notion of healthy aging has
gained wide acceptance in gerontology,
measuring the phenomenon is challenging.
Guided by a prominent conceptualization of
healthy aging, we examined how shifting from a
more to less stringent definition of healthy aging
influences prevalence estimates, demographic
patterns, and validity.”
(McLaughlin SJ, Jette AM , Connell CM. 2012)

16. Concluding remarks
• Consider how we and policy makers are
constructing ageing
• Recognise that different terminology has been
adopted by different governments,
researchers and consumers – implications for
comparisons
• Consider are policy goals actually achievable
or just aspirational.